About 80% of dwellings were built before the year 1990. While they may have complied with the safety standards at the time of construction, those standards might not be relevant in today’s day and age. Significant changes were made in electrical standards since 1990 and the protection technologies of today were not available or required back then. You must ensure that the standards maintained in such existing accommodations are raised to the electrical safety levels of the current standards.

Understanding the Risks at Existing Accommodation

Extensive safety studies must be carried out in the existing residential buildings to determine the disparity between the required safety standards and the existing safety standards. If the existing standards fall a little short, you must show an urgency to raise the level of safety of these buildings and bring them up to the current standards.

Thankfully, it isn’t too complicated or difficult to do so. You can take small steps to gradually improve the electrical safety through a program of manual safety audits.

3 Ways Current Safety Standards Help in Reducing Electrical Risks

Importance of Verification

The current electrical standards ensure that the new residential electrical installations are safe and that they remain so over their entire lifetime. IEC 60364-6 defines both initial verification of an installation as well as verification of residential dwellings every 10 years. The periodic verification ensures that the fundamental protective measures remain active and reliable.

Recommended Periodic Auditing

There must be periodic auditing to ensure that the safety conditions are up to the mark. The audits need to be simple and based on visual checks. They need to be performed by a qualified auditor, who can then inform the owner of any possible safety issues. The owner will then take responsibility for arranging any necessary repair work. The frequency of inspection can be defined by each country, either by a specific period (e.g., 10 years), or triggered by an event such as the sale or rental of a dwelling.

Storm damage electrical repair is a common issue we help customers with in the Des Moines Metro areas.  Storms can cause major damage not only to your homes roof, siding, and windows but also the wiring in and out of your home.  We are not just talking about the major storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes, but storms such as thunderstorms, hail storms, heavy rain and snow storms, and freezing rain or ice storms.  Thunderstorms can cause massive power surges damaging your homes electronics, appliances, and wiring.  Heavy snow and ice storms can damage overhead wiring ripping service mast off the side of your home and cause major physical damage.  Heavy winds can blow down trees hitting overhead service lines.  Even a tree coming in contact with the power grid can cause massive surges and still damage your home even miles away from the incident.

We have electricians available 24 hours for emergency electrical repair.  We realize that with overnight storms you can not always wait for the next day in order to have your home or businesses wiring repaired.  Our emergency team consist of experienced and licensed electricians, 24 hour live answered phones, and a warehouse stocking a full line of parts to repair most major problems.

Not only do we carry our own inventory but we also have 24 hour access to all major electrical supplies stores in the Des Moines metro area.  With our licensed electricians we can make that emergency electrical repair no matter what the time of day or night is.

With no electricity in your home you can often experience more damage than the initial storm presented.  Sump pumps protect your homes basement from incoming water.  Heavy rains and ground water may continue to flow for hours or even days from the time your home or business lost electricity.  Flooded basements depending on the level of finish can cost thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.  Even winter time power outages can cause damage.  Your furnace runs on electricity and without it you may not have any heat in your home.  Without heat pipes can freeze and burst flooding your property.

We have equipment that can be used to get to areas not normally accessible or areas not safely reached from a ladder.  Our equipment is designed to safely get your power restored so you can rest comfortably.

Categories: 24 Hour Electrician, Bucket Truck, Uncategorized« Power Surges and Whole House Surge Protection  |  Hot Tub and Pool Wiring Don’t Risk Your Safety! »

Spirited lighting designs are trending toward the dark side, and that’s not just because it is Halloween.  Style spotters and top designers are embracing bold fashions and dramatic hues.  Take a look at the top three themes in the world of illumination…

1.  Deep, Dark Hues:  It is said to be a sign of the times that we are embracing rich, dark colors.  From politics to cultural rebirths, a positive vibe is in the air and we are changing it up with dramatic designs and darker hues.

“Momento De Mori” from Shannon Koszyk’s dramatic collection for Currey and Company features an Antique Nickel skull, black base and Inky Black parchment shade.

2.  A Cleaner Contemporary:   The ease of clean contemporary goes hand-in-hand with energy-efficiency and LED illumination.  From intricate geometric cutouts to textured Mercury glass compositions, the call for contemporary design has never been greater.

“Sovereign” table lamps from Dimond Lighting showcase Antique Mercury glass combined with energy-efficient LED illumination.

3.  Fearless Fashions and Surprise Twists:  Engaging new mediums run the gamut from natural palm leaf panels to a fusion of slate and metal.  Experimenting with hundreds of different textures, organic and synthetic materials, designers are coming up with new lamp shades, lamp bases and chandeliers that offer a magnificent blend of elements.  Novel lamp styles are making the A-list from designers who are not afraid to take a risk!

“Free Fall” from Kenroy Home introduces natural slate within a rugged iron lamp base for a statuesque presentation.

Lighting showrooms are abuzz with new lamps and chandeliers for the holiday season.  From High Point to Hong Kong, top lighting vendors are giving us plenty to celebrate.  Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or 1800lighting.com to see the latest fixture fashions.

This spring you may be feeling the itch to update your home. As spring dawns, it is normal to get that spring fever or feel the need to clean things up. The condition is often referred to as spring cleaning and homeowners everywhere are cleaning out the garages, adding a fresh coat of paint to the deck and revamping the interior of their homes. One way to transform your home is by having a home lighting upgrade with the help of an electrician in Burbank. The team at The Electric Connection are here to help you satisfy your spring makeover urges and can help you get the lighting scheme of your dreams.

One of the lighting options you have is recessed lighting. This is the latest trend in home building. It is an ideal option for many reasons.

*Can be installed on any ceiling whether it is pitched or completely flat *The recessed lights make the room look bigger in general

A Burbank electrician can install the lights where you want them. If you have a fireplace mantle or a particular piece of artwork you would like to highlight in a room, the lights can be placed so those items are highlighted. The lights are very easy to install and can be placed pretty much anywhere, including under the stairs, hallways and even on the covered patio.

Another bonus to recessed lighting is the ability to customize the outer trim. You can opt for a shiny silver trim that will reflect the light or add a splash of color to the room with a uniquely colored trim. All of these options can be discussed with your electrician. Burbank homeowners don’t have to limit their lighting to the boring typical fixtures of 20 years ago. Give The Electric Connection a call today and upgrade your home’s lighting and give it a whole new look.